McConnell praises NJ’s Chiesa on Senate floor

WASHINGTON (AP) — New Jersey’s outgoing interim U.S. Senator has gotten a warm send-off from his colleagues.

Jeffrey Chiesa was bid a fond farewell by his colleagues on Wednesday afternoon.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell took to the Senate floor to praise his fellow Republican. He said that while Chiesa’s tenure has been short, it’s also been eventful — noting that he was present for the government shutdown in October.

McConnell also joked that Chiesa had to deal with 99 senators “pronouncing his name 99 different ways.”

Chiesa also learned the senate isn’t entirely genteel; McConnell says a colleague threatened to “waterboard” Chiesa if he didn’t vote a certain way on a bill.